The Russian Air Force continued to pound Islamic State positions and other militant groups active in Syria from Hmeymim airbase in Latakia on Wednesday. The video shot from the airbase shows a multi-role Sukhoi Su-30SM being readied and fitted with missiles before it takes off for a combat mission. The fighter jet can be armed with bombs, air-to-air missiles, machine guns and Onik supersonic land-attack missiles.

Moscow has consistently used the Su-30SM for Syria combat missions since their deployment in September. This fourth generation bomber is especially known for its maneuverability.

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Meanwhile, Syrian activists reportedly say that Islamic State group has retaken a strategically important town in the central province of Homs from government forces. The government had recaptured the town of Mheen and surrounding villages from the extremists two weeks ago as part of a general offensive to secure the highway connecting Damascus to the country’s northwest.

Iraqi security forces take combat positions on the front line with Islamic State group militants in Ramadi, capital of Iraq’s Anbar province, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. Following significant advances on the Anbar provincial capital Ramadi Tuesday, Iraqi forces are now preparing to push into the city center from the southwest and the north. (AP Photo/Osama Sami)

The loss deals a setback to the Syrian army’s strategy to fortify the corridor with support from Russian airpower.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that fighting is underway on Thursday between IS militants and government forces with their allied militias outside of Mheen.

Islamic State media outlets reported earlier that the group’s fighters had seized the hills overlooking the town on Wednesday night.